New York City. The Men

A new record by a band that is impossible to google, The Men. (Try a band called Women, e.g.) Punk of the old block is what can be heard on New York City. Energy, excitement and a dirty sound. From The Sexpistols to The Ramones, it's all here. This music has nothing to do with beauty and being nice, this is all about presence and making a statement or two. Well, ten in this case.

Do you need to know more about New York City? As far as this album is concerned, no. It is the 9th album of the Brooklyn based punk rockers and a self-acclaimed back to basics album. To think I've missed eight albums by this band. This makes New York City the larger surprise. It falls totally on new ground, except everything that came before in this genre of course. For me it has been a while since I heard new music this raw. Not even the raw power of Iggy Pop's latest is this raw. The men don't hide behind anything. What you hear is what you get. Direct and in your face.

Because of the rawness the thought of a garage does pop up, going all the way back to The Kingsmen's start of this U.S. form of cult rock music. Playing rock music without a filter, as if no one is interested in listening beyond the garage and producing rough little diamonds in the meantime. That is what The Men have produced in this pressure cooker of an album. Uncut diamonds, nonetheless extremely precious.

The guitars are always in overdrive and do not shun a solo here and there. The drummer is always pounding away and the bass player seems to strive to fill up the Grand Canyon with his playing. Always huge and present. The singer is like Johnny Rotten on a bad day, sneering his lyrics into the audience's ears. His voice decidedly getting the worse for wear, still coping quite well.

The Men are the real thing. It's been some years since I heard an album like this. This will most likely have been caused about having laid my ears in the wrong place, but nonetheless. Searching for rawk and roll, folks? Search no more and get yourself a copy!

Wout de Natris

You can order New York City (the album) here:

https://themen.bandcamp.com/album/new-york-city